Neville: Contract Expiring… and No Club But United Will Do

Gary Neville saw out the first half for United in our friendly against Aberdeen yesterday, in a match that we won 2-0.

After making just one appearance for the first team last season, coming on in the second half against Roma in the Champions League, Neville is eager to prove his fitness and fight for his place in the squad.

Whilst a United lad through and through, so overjoyed at last season’s successes by default, he will have been bitterly disappointed that he missed out on lifting the trophies. In Moscow, he celebrated with the players on the pitch, suited up, but his aim next season is to be in the thick of the action, with just one year remaining on his contract.

“I’m into the last year of my contract, so I’ve got to do my best and try to maintain my existence at United because this is the only club I want to play football for,” said Neville. “It’s difficult as regards the future because at the age of 33 or 34 you have to start thinking about what you are going to do once you stop. At that age you feel like you are about to fall off a cliff because there’s nothing you can do to replicate the last 15 years. You have to try to find something. Hopefully I can keep that at bay for two years.”

Neville believes that the progression to management is unavoidable for him, and will follow the many players who have worked under Sir Alex Ferguson in to taking a coaching role.

“I have done my coaching badges in the summer – along with Ryan Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer,” he added. “But although the two weeks were good fun and hard work, it doesn’t replace actually playing. What it did do was make me think about the fact I hadn’t played for more than 12 months and that I’ve got to make the most of the next season and play for as long as I possibly can.”

Will Neville get his first team place back next season?

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5 Comments

I think being at his age he’ll be in the situation where he’ll be rested a lot more than in the past. He will always have the ability to perform in our first team.

The likes of Maldini and Cafu seemed to have lasted forever and I can see the next couple of seasons being used to phase the remaining LEGENDS out. Wes Brown is a centre back and he’s likely to be used in that role when cover is required so that’ll free up space for Nev.

Simpson will hopefully be phased in over that time period, he is the one reserve player who looks totally comfortable in the first team and the way he gets forward is similar to Evra. That balance would be great.

I think whatever happens there will always be a place for Neville at Old Trafford and his passion is an inspiration to everyone. When there was all that talk of Neville being sent to show Ramsey around, where as Wenger flew him abroad… it made me think, and realise that there is not anyone at United who is United through and through, apart from Gary.

Gary is a very rare loyal supporter to our club and he is loved by millions around the world for his loyalty and as a person I can assure you that he is a smashing lad. He is always here with us in Malta and we only talk, breed and eat UNITED !
Anyway yes he hates scousers LIKE ME !!!!!!

If United want a long-term strategy that benefits the club both in terms of success AND local identity then they need to invest far more in local youth.

Its no co-incidence that players like Scholes, Giggs and Neville (all ‘local’ to a greater or less degree) are the ones who have seen out their whole careers at the club and would never contemplate going elsewhere.

Contrast this to that Portuguese leech currently repaying our adoration by pissing on us from afar like a f*cking gutless coward.

Spend far far more money getting more local kids playing (there are in fact less and less playing these past few years) and ensure that there will always be at least four or five local stalwarts sweating blood for THEIR team.

Don’t get me wrong -we need the foreign lads (who could forget Eric?) – but ultimately in this era of me-first-money-money-money, loyalties are extremely fickle.

When you say “local” are you talking England or Manchester? Because Wazza looks prepared to finish his career with us as does Rio.

Outside of English players, though, I see the likes of Evra who loves our club through and through wanting to finish with us (and tbh play most of career already) as long as the club will let him. I don’t think foreign players are incapable of the kind of loyalties we need. There are people across the world who dream of United. However, I do agree that investing in our youth team is crucial.. I will be sad to see the likes of Eagles go if it comes to that bc I think he could make it here.